16/06/2010

Gilmore Criticised Over Welcoming Croke Park Agreement

The Labour party leader Eamon Gilmore has been criticised by the Government for welcoming the ratification of the Croke Park Agreement.

The Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) formally ratified the controversial Croke Park agreement on public service pay and reform yesterday by a margin of two to one.

Speaking last night, Mr Gilmore said he welcomed the conclusion of the ratification process urged all concerned to accept the outcome of the democratic process that sealed the deal.

“I want to also give an undertaking to public sector workers that the Labour Party in government will honour the terms of the agreement.

“When the draft Croke Park Agreement was concluded on March 30th I said that it was then a matter for the members of each of the unions to consider the proposals and vote on them in accordance with their own democratic procedures."

However, Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins, despite also welcoming the ratification, accused Mr Gilmore of "sitting on the fence" adding that it was "bizarre" that the leader of the Labour party took an central position over an agreement which has massive implications for the country.

“For someone who declares himself ready to be the next Taoiseach, Deputy Gilmore has demonstrated absolutely no leadership on this issue which is central to bringing stability restoring prosperity,” said TD Collins.

However, Mr Gilmore said that from the very day on which the government "showed the trade unions the door in government" he had urged the government and the union movement to reopen talks and to seek to conclude a comprehensive national agreement.

“I took that position and adhered to it since then because I believed that public sector workers should be treated with the respect they deserve and allowed to conduct their ballots, free from interference from any political party,” Mr Gilmore said.

Amid the political wrangling, some unions such as the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) and the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) have said they would not accept the outcome of a majority vote on the Croke Park deal.

The executives of individual unions which voted against the deal will decide on what action to take if they do not wish to go along with the position of the Public Services Committee (PSC).

Trade union Unite, which voted against the deal, said yesterday that it would convene a meeting of its public service representatives to discuss the implications of the decision of the Public Services Committee.

(DW/GK)


Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

02 January 2013
Unions Seeking Compensation For Low Paid Civil Service Workers
Following the abolition of time off afforded to civil service employees to cash cheques – the so-called bank time arrangement, the trade union representing lower-paid staff has signalled it will be seeking compensation.
01 April 2010
'Revolutionary' Pay Deal Unpopular
It has emerged that the pay deal struck between unions representing public sector workers and management may be in trouble. The leader of the union representing lower paid civil servants has this morning acknowledged the proposed pay and reform deal, which was described on Tuesday as "revolutionary" may not be supported by its members.
07 March 2013
National Campaign Launches To Oppose New Croke Park Agreement
Four trade unions have launched a joint national campaign to seek a no vote to the proposals for a new Croke Park agreement. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), The Civil and Public Services Union (CPSU) and Unite launched the campaign at a press conference in Dublin this morning.
15 January 2013
SIPTU Issues Warning Over Compulsory Redundancies
SIPTU will not sign up to a new public service agreement if it involves compulsory redundancies, the unions Vice President Patricia King has warned. She said trade unions exist to represent the best interests of their members - and recommending that they be sacked was not in their best interests.
19 May 2014
EU Committee Rule To Allow Gardaí Union Representation
The European Committee of Social Rights has ruled that Gardaí should be allowed to join unions, negotiate wages and strikes.